Of Gods and Men is the Register film critic's top pick for best 2011 movie. (Sony Pictures Classics)

| Jan. 17, 2012

SDG's Best Films of 2011

Sublime 'Of Gods and Men' Tops a Strong Year for Religion in Movies

STEVEN D. GREYDANUS

2011 was a good year for film, and particularly for depictions of faith in film — but not in the Hollywood mainstream on either count.

This year, in one Hollywood film after another, religion was strikingly absent in tragic or crisis-filled times. George Clooney was widowed in The Descendants; Matt Damon widowed in both Contagion and We Bought a Zoo; Nicole Kidman bereaved of a child in Rabbit Hole (which had a limited opening in December 2010). All suffered bereavement with scarcely any acknowledgment of religion (except, in Kidman’s case, to reject it). Contagion, in particular, depicted all sorts of social consequences of a global pandemic except the role of faith in times of crisis.

It wasn’t all that bleak. A few Hollywood films, especially period pieces like The Help and War Horse, found room for religion and piety. Soul Surfer embraced its heroine’s evangelical faith, and The Rite was a straightforwardly Catholic horror film. On the other hand, anti-religious or even blasphemous sentiments cropped up in films like Red Riding Hood, A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas and Priest.

Beyond the multiplex mainstream, it was a very different story. The French drama Of Gods and Men (easily my favorite film of the year) and the English documentary No Greater Love offered in-depth depictions of monastery life. Passion plays featured in two art films: Polish artist Lech Majewski’s The Mill & the Cross and Milanese architect Michelangelo Frammartino’s Le Quattro Volte (The Four Times).

Hollywood maverick Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life, the Portuguese melodrama Mysteries of Lisbon, the Robert Redford-directed indie The Conspirator and the Sheen/Estevez family project The Way all used Catholic culture as a backdrop for their characters’ journeys. Roland Joffé‘s There Be Dragons depicted the life of St. Josemaría Escriva and the founding of Opus Dei. Also worth noting is the high profile of Islam in films, including Of Gods and Men, A Separation and The Interrupters.

Family audiences had an unusual, overall mediocre year, highlighted by Pixar’s disappointing Cars 2. A trio of unusual family films from veteran directors — Gore Verbinski’s Rango, Martin Scorsese’s Hugo and Cameron Crowe’s We Bought a Zoo — aimed higher than average, with uneven results. DreamWorks and Blue Sky hit their marks with Kung Fu Panda 2, Puss in Boots and Rio. Unexpectedly, the brightest spot was Disney’s back-to-back successes with nostalgic returns to form for a pair of venerable but previously flagging franchises, The Muppets and Winnie the Pooh.

The Year’s Best

This year, for the first time in a while, I’ve decided to do a ranked list rather than an alphabetical one. Ranking my list forces me to be franker about my preferences and allows me to give greater prominence to the films that most moved me.

10 Films That Stood Out

Of Gods and Men. Xavier Beauvois’ sublime, fact-based drama about nine French Trappist monks living in peace with their Muslim neighbors until they are kidnapped by Muslim terrorists and murdered is more than a beautifully acted and photographed drama: It is simply the most powerful cinematic tribute to the beauty of the Christian ideal in at least the last quarter century. Brief graphic violence, a few disturbing images and references; a single obscene expression. Subtitles. Teens and up.

A Separation. Iranian director Asghar Farhadi’s unerringly precise portrait of a family in crisis spirals into unexpectedly fraught territory, with ever-rising stakes for a cast of likable, persuasive characters at tragic loggerheads with one another. Some coarse language and obscenity; some frank medical realities, including a character’s incontinence and a miscarriage; tense family scenes. Subtitles. Mature viewing.

The Mill & the Cross. Polish artist Lech Majewski’s English-language film is an indescribable experiment, an homage to Flemish Renaissance painter Pieter Brueghel’s The Way of Calvary that visualizes both the world of the painting itself and the world in which Brueghel worked. Some violent sequences, including crucifixion and execution of heretics; brief full female nudity; fleeting sexuality. Adults.

Buck. Luminous and uplifting, documentarian Cindy Meehl’s homage to laconic, low-key “horse whisperer” Buck Brannaman is a powerful portrait of leadership, redemption, healing and understanding — a film that’s as much about being a better person as a better horseman. Mild language; references to an abusive childhood; a couple of violent horse moments and a moderately serious injury. Fine for older kids.

The Conspirator. Directed by Robert Redford, the American Film Company’s debut feature is an engrossing exploration of a little-known but fascinating and sobering chapter in American history, and a rare historical drama that credibly captures a sense of another era. Violent content, including a brief battlefield scene, at least two shooting deaths, a violent stabbing and a group hanging; references to drunkenness and a few other mature references. Teens and up.

Moneyball. Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin’s crackerjack dialogue highlights Bennett Miller’s exhilarating fictionalized account of the Oakland A’s’ unlikely 2002 winning streak in a sports film that hits the sweet spot of appealing to fans and non-fans alike. A couple of obscenities and much crass language; a few sexually themed references. Teens and up.

Mysteries of Lisbon. Based on a Portuguese novel, Raúl Ruiz’s visually opulent, 4½-hour period piece is an absurdly dizzy melodrama of romantic intrigues, betrayals, coincidences, secrets and revelations, anchored by a Catholic milieu embodied in the commanding Father Dinis. Premarital and extramarital affairs, dueling violence, suicide and other soap-operaish goings-on. Subtitles. Adults.

The Muppets. The year’s best family film is a delightful musical throwback to the Muppets’ glory days, co-written by star Jason Siegel and directed by James Bobin. Very mild rude humor; a brief scene of comic violence. Fine family viewing.

The Tree of Life. At turns, for me, transcendent (mostly in the first hour) and frustrating (mostly after that), Terrence Malick’s epic meditation on the mysteries of life, the universe, suffering and God asks the big questions with more urgency than any other film I’ve seen this year. Some disturbing content, including troubled family situations and brief domestic violence; religious questioning. Teens and up.

Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol. Brad Bird’s live-action debut makes big-screen action more fun than it has been in years, highlighted by a number of bravura set pieces. Much intense action violence; brief unclear reference to killings in a heroic character’s past; some suggestive content; a few instances of profanity and some crass language. Teens and up.

10 Runners-Up

A number of films listed here as Runners-Up (in alphabetical order) could easily have made the list above — and this year I had a harder time than ever before narrowing my Runners-Up list to only 10 films, so there are films in the third tier of Honorable Mention that could easily have made this list. This is a lovely problem to have: too many films to be able to honor all as you would like.

Le Quattro Volte: Michelangelo Frammartino’s dialogue-free meditation on the circle of life, inspired by Pythagoras’ concept of the passage of the soul from human to animal to vegetable to mineral. Teens and up.

Midnight in Paris: Woody Allen’s charmingly nostalgic parable about seeing through the illusion of nostalgia and yet not being disillusioned; about cherishing the past, while living in the present. Adults.

No Greater Love: British filmmaker Michael Whyte’s lovely, contemplative documentary look at life in a Carmelite monastery in London’s Notting Hill. Kids and up.

For Teens and Up:A Better Life; Captain America: The First Avenger; Courageous; Green Lantern; The Help; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2; Life Above All; Nostalgia for the Light; Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides; Rango; Rise of the Planet of the Apes; Super 8; The Three Musketeers; Thor

oooo, you had me at “other soap-operaish goings-on”. Yay!
I love that you made this list! I would have missed out on so much; I’ve got about ten new great films in my Netflix queue.
I appreciate having you as a reliable go-to for thoughtful, considered explanations and recommendations.

FWIW, my grandmother was in her 90s when she died in 2010. I remember sitting in her living room circa 1980 with grandparents, aunts and uncles, siblings, cousins, all watching “The Muppet Show” and all loving it. Somehow it transcended generations. It was the most popular show in the world, IIRC.

Last month I went to see The Muppets with a similar three-generational group, only this time my mother was the grandmother, I was the father/uncle, and my children, nephews and neices were the third generation. We all had a blast—including my fairly Muppet-resistant 13-year-old son. I’m convinced the new film has the same generation-spanning appeal that “The Muppet Show” had when I was a kid.

As for Hugo, I’m calling it a “sort-of family film” for families with older kids. Of course the dog chase scenes might be scary to young children (almost anything could scare some sensitive youngster; my oldest daughter used to hide from “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” for reasons you would never guess). I think the greater likelihood, though, is that young kids for whom the movie doesn’t click will be bored.

What makes Hugo click for some kids is anyone’s guess. I don’t quarrel with anyone for not liking it, although anything so beautiful can’t possibly be “the worst waste of film in this century.” Anyway, I think it’s a remarkable film worth calling out, whether anyone likes it or not.

Here is my final thought for you: See Of Gods and Men and Buck. If you don’t dig them, stop reading me! I’m not likely to have anything to say useful to you in that case. Peace.

Posted by Janice laire on Tuesday, Jan, 24, 2012 5:30 PM (EDT):

I didn’t hate “The Muppets” as I took my 3 grandchildren. But it was boring for a grownup who mostly watches movies on TV!! BUT “Hugo” was a monster! You recommend that for children? How about the dog, maybe it was 2 dogs, chasing the young boy?? I can just imagine the nightmares from that! And the ridiculous ‘romance’ between the kids? Oh, maybe it wasn’t a romance. I admit in my 80’s I maybe out of date. In my opinion, it was my vote for the worst waste of film in this century. Garbage.

Posted by Marion Evans on Sunday, Jan, 22, 2012 6:27 PM (EDT):

I loved the documentary “BUCK”. I am a horse owner and never heard of this man until today. He is amazing the work he does with the horses. If only more people were as gentle with training. I hope he wins the award. I also saw “War Horse” and was not impressed.

Posted by Rosemary on Friday, Jan, 20, 2012 8:52 PM (EDT):

I loved the film “Into Great Silence” so imagine my delight at knowing about “Of Gods and Men” and “No Greater Love.” Your reviews make me even more eager to see them. I also want to see “War Horse.”

Note to all: Okay, I made some revisions and added a few films I missed earlier. Most are in the “Also Worth Noting” section, although one, Meek’s Crossing, was promoted to “Honorable Mention”, dislodging The City of Life and Death. So you see the rankings aren’t hard and fast!

Joey: I agree that Tinker Tailor is impressively precise and taut, and in principle I very much appreciate its choice to go a different way than the Bourne films or Munich. I would like to have liked it. But I wasn’t engaged by the characters or drawn into the story. Also, frankly, I just found it confusing. Here’s my 30-second video review.

Posted by Joey on Friday, Jan, 20, 2012 1:34 AM (EDT):

I’m surprised “Tinker Tailor” isn’t higher on your list. Personally I found the film to be thrillingly precise and taught. Too many modern espionage movies either try to be “The Bourne Identity” or “Munich”: either too fast-paced, or too artificially composed.

Posted by Evan on Thursday, Jan, 19, 2012 2:46 PM (EDT):

@ Victor Morton: “TAKE SHELTER is one of the best movies of the year for about 117 minutes. Unfortunately, it’s 122 minutes long.” My thoughts exactly. I thought both Shannon’s and Chastain’s performances were so good, that I forgot I was watching actors, and the story was quite engaging. Then the confusing/unresolved/annoying/out of place ending was a huge let down.
@ Steven D. Greydanus: Despite the ending, I think Take Shelter still might make a top 30, for the first 117 minutes.

To be clear, by “deal-breaker” I don’t necessarily mean anything more catastrophic than “This movie will not make my top 10 / 20 / 30 this year.” In the dog days of January I become very focused.

Posted by Victor Morton on Thursday, Jan, 19, 2012 1:40 PM (EDT):

Well I gave TAKE SHELTER an 8, so I obviously don’t think it’s a “dealbreaker,” though you may disagree. (It’s an ending in the DIABOLIQUE / TRUMAN SHOW genre that is so absolutely wrong that it may even recode the entire picture. I didn’t see it a second time dominance know how it “plays” with full knowledge. But until then ... man O man

The last 30 minutes of a promising film are often nervewracking as you hope and pray that they don’t screw it up. Sometimes I find myself silently pleading with the filmmakers in the final act: You’re so close, so close. You don’t even need to be any more brilliant than you’ve already been! Just don’t screw it up. That’s all I ask.

I’m always happy when a deal-breaking problem occurs in the first 30 minutes of a film, before I’ve invested too much time and energy. In the dog days of January, as I hold my own personal film festival of the previous year looking for the gems I missed, I don’t even bother to finish a film that lets me down in the first half-hour.

It drives Suz a little crazy that she’s seen the beginnings of so many films we will never bother to finish. Every year in mid-January she starts talking about forming a support group for wives of film critics.

Posted by Victor Morton on Thursday, Jan, 19, 2012 12:35 PM (EDT):

Steve, Ben:

TAKE SHELTER is one of the best movies of the year for about 117 minutes. Unfortunately, it’s 122 minutes long.

Until that horrifically miscalculated coda, it’s one of the best depictions of a slide into insanity you’ll ever see, with the best Jessica Chastain performance of 2011; plus the performance where Michael Shannon finally “clicked” with me (I hated his widely praised supporting turn as a nutburger in REVOLUTIONARY ROAD, e.g.)

Posted by Sebas on Thursday, Jan, 19, 2012 12:08 PM (EDT):

Teomatteo: where is the mill and the cross showing in detroit?

Steven: thanks for your list and your reviews. I don’t get to the movies much, but will keep this for future reference when renting.

We did go to see Hugo as a family with children ranging in age from 6-21 . It was a very good film for all of us to enjoy ... My 17 yo - a tough one to please - even liked it!

I’ve seen The Descendants but not yet Take Shelter. The Descendants I found to be sporadically engaging but not really insightful … and, as noted above, another example of a film about bereavement that doesn’t even ask any of the big questions about God, heaven, etc. Considering this man is a descendant of missionaries (which I think is in the film, and I know is in the screenplay)—and that he and his wife had two daughters—it’s the kind of thing you’d expect to come up.

Sam, we agree with you 100%. Based on the warnings, most of these films are not proper viewing for Catholics. Obscenity, graphic violence, fornication, adultery, full nudity, crass language… are we so bored with what is good and wholesome? These things offend our Lord, our Blessed Mother and the dignity of man and woman. “Finally, beloved… whatever is honorable… whatever is pure… if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Phil.4:8 RSV
Disappointed with NCR. Won’t be returning.

Posted by The Flash on Thursday, Jan, 19, 2012 12:50 AM (EDT):

Eek! I haven’t seen any of the top ten yet! (rolls up sleeves)

Posted by Kathy16670 on Wednesday, Jan, 18, 2012 10:34 PM (EDT):

Your list is just fine. I like it!

Posted by Coast Ranger on Wednesday, Jan, 18, 2012 9:56 PM (EDT):

Thanks for the list! My Netflix queue was running on fumes, now it’s got a full tank.

Some of the more robust Catholic movie buffs might enjoy BRIGHTON ROCK the new adaptation of Graham Greene’s novel.

Posted by Tapestry on Wednesday, Jan, 18, 2012 8:57 PM (EDT):

I loved Moneyball, I hate bad words in a movie, only heard 1 when I watched the movie in the theater and 3 when I ran the DVD at home the other night.
There was no ‘sexual overtones” I have no idea what they are
talking about in this article.
I read the book, its a baseball movie but beyond that its a movie about one man who took another’s man idea and tried to implement it against all odds. A man who still looks back on the path he took as a teenager, a major decision, that changed his whole life. Maybe it was supposed to be but he got hit twice in one lifetime .. wow I never had that opportunity.

Pachyderminator: Of Gods and Men‘s domestic theatrical release was in 2011, so while it might be a 2010 film based on international distribution, for the purposes of the American moviegoing public and most American film critics it’s a 2011 film.

Posted by teomatteo on Wednesday, Jan, 18, 2012 7:10 PM (EDT):

Thanks Steve. the wifey and i are going to see the ‘Mill and the Cross’ this weekend in detriot. On your recommendation. peace

Victor Morton: Thanks for your thoughtful comments. Your critical remarks on The Way are generally well taken, as usual, and obviously I think the film is somewhat vulnerable along the lines of some of the points you make, or I would have ranked it higher than I did. But yes, I’m more appreciative of the film myself. (In fact, not to toot my horn too loudly, an excerpt from my review of The Way was cited by IMAGE Journal in their piece honoring me as their January 2012 Artist of the Month as an example of my ability to “probe deeply.”)

Posted by Victor Morton on Wednesday, Jan, 18, 2012 5:24 PM (EDT):

I should add BTW, that I kept in there (for the record) one mistaken criticism of THE WAY I made that night, and which Steve pointed out then. There is ONE character whom “God touches sideways” (to say much more than that would be a spoiler) and which I missed at the time. The general substance of my criticism—a shortage of spiritual epiphanies—is still valid though.

Posted by Victor Morton on Wednesday, Jan, 18, 2012 5:14 PM (EDT):

As for THE WAY, I needled Steve a bit (“boy, are YOU handing out the Plenary Indulgences this week”) over his liking the film somewhat more than I did. But he’s right not to include it in his Top 10—it’s a film that had the potential for greatness and some elements of it, but which doesn’t actually come together.

Here’s an adaptation of what I wrote on Twitter (juggled around to include content of follow-up conversations with Steve and someone else, and also smoothed out some 140-character-per-note compromises)

THE WAY (Emilio Estevez, USA/Spain, 2011, 4) If you can’t make ME respond to a movie about a Catholic pilgrimage, you may as well pack it in. Estevez is an appallingly bad director of actors—only person who doesn’t overact ridiculously is The Old Man not obliged to listen to the kid. Angry Canadian Feminist makes sure we see those Capital Letters CLenching THRough ... HER ... CHARActer’S TEETH!!! Oirish Jack shows up, displaying the gift o the gab that we Celtic types be brilliantly known fowr far and wide which makes them ohlways after me lucky charms. And Spanish Ramon belonged in outright comic farce (wasn’t Mandy Patinkin available?). I didn’t even think it worked well as a travelogue (which is really all it winds up being) ... the cinematography is rather flat and a bit underlit. It gets a bit better near the end, but even then, it’s still too schematic and “srface-y,” with little follow-thru. We expect epiphanies and get ... not much. The film is at least respectful of cultural Catholicism, which is not nothing and more than is common in this day and age. But that can be done in a movie that’s not about a major pilgrimage, with all the star/casting power this one had at the table. I went in hoping for something great, but there just isn’t enough religious content or context (with one spectacular exception I’ll get to in a bit), so THE WAY mostly gets reduced to therapy: lose weight, meet dead son, quit smoking, overcome writer block etc. Some of these goals are met, some are not, but the pilgrimage succeeds/fails entirely on THOSE terms. There’s no sense in which God sneaks up on any of the four or answers any prayers “sideways,” like (heck) even a frivolous film like WE’RE NO ANGELS had. The exact moment I gave up on the film was when Sheen returns the rosary beads to priest saying “they were useful.” *We never even saw them unsheathed.* I asked a non-Christian critic friend who liked the film more than I did “does it make you want to take the pilgrimage” (not even a demand as high as “convert to Catholicism / revert”) and it didn’t. (His one-word response was “Hah!”) In fairness to THE WAY, I should note there is one great, transcendent scene. One word: Thurible. And Sheen Pere’s mere presence has gravitas, especially given his own recent “son” issues. The film’s very existence is a valuable gesture. Martin Sheen reuniting with the memory of a distant son. How could it not be awesome? (A: From the auteur of MEN AT WORK.)

The reason Steve doesn’t have COURAGEOUS on his list is that, at the end of the day, it is not a movie, but a sermon. Literally. The last scene is not the last scene of a work of art and kills every bit of good will possible.

Posted by Rachel on Wednesday, Jan, 18, 2012 4:01 PM (EDT):

Sam, I am grateful for Steven’s list because I believe they are thoughtful choices of films based on their actual content (what they are trying to say, etc) instead of how many cusswords they might have or how many violent situations. True art should inspire one to think and transcend. How can you have good art without showing some bad situations at times? How can you show the working of Grace in one’s soul without showing their journey (from sin to grace, etc)? We desperately need good art. We, as the Church practically invented it. If you don’t like the language intensity, the violence, even some sexual content then please do not read any Shakespeare, Chaucer, Greco-Roman mythology, 19th century literature, etc. Also, just to be consistent, don’t bother looking at any of the Italian Master’s works of art (that would include many of the Cathedrals and churches in Rome), any Medieval Churches (again, that would also be in just about every corner), or most art for that matter. Again, some of it might be violent or even sexual in nature. In fact, you probably should censor most of the Bible due to intense language, violent, and some sexual situations. Again, good art inspires one to do what’s right and its good to have character arcs in movies/books/plays otherwise, it would be a boring, insipid, schmaltzy piece of crap that wouldn’t inspire anyone.

M. Dale: Meek’s Cutoff should be there. I will find a place for it here within a day or two. Thanks. (FWIW, I appreciated it a good bit but could never watch it with Suz. She has a primal fear of the desert and of being stranded there, and the whole movie would be her worst nightmare.)

Cathy: I enjoyed the Harry Potter finale, but it’s too intense for me to count as a family film per se. I wouldn’t show it to my younger kids (and FWIW my older kids aren’t interested).

Posted by Cathy on Wednesday, Jan, 18, 2012 3:22 PM (EDT):

I can’t believe Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part two is not even mentioned in the family films!

Posted by M. Dale on Wednesday, Jan, 18, 2012 3:19 PM (EDT):

I’m sad to see no love for MEEK’S CUTOFF, especially since it’s rare to see a smart, accomplished PG film that’s meant for adult viewing. (Not that a tween *couldn’t* watch it, but I fear 90% of them would be bored out of their skulls.) (Then again, that percentage might not be much different for adults.)

Holly Roddam: To clarify, I bemoaned the lack of positive religious content in the Hollywood mainstream. Courageous is definitely not that. And I did mention The Help, though like most critics I wasn’t as impressed as you were (my review). Glad to hear you’ll be back!

David B.: It was a good year for documentaries. I sometimes think I could do a whole top 10 list of just docus!

If these films are the best we can expect - w/exception of approx. 2-3 - we are in deep trouble. Nearly all of them you mention have cursing, nakedness, violence, turmoil, etc. to a greater or lesser degree. These are definitely not Catholic movies and good practicing Christians certainly have to shut their eyes and ears at various junctures during watching them. So why bother. They are not proper viewing for 17& above or any age if one respects the Truth which is Christ. St. Paul clearly says, “do not even let these kinds of things enter into your perspective.” Why not more movies like Secretariate which is a true story based on faith in many areas.

Get a grip and quit recommending such terrible choices simply because you don’t find them offensive. I do.

Posted by David B. on Wednesday, Jan, 18, 2012 2:57 PM (EDT):

Good list, SDG. More films to put on my “need to watch” list.

You made me aware of “Young@Heart”, and “The Fall”, so your year-end lists have proven necessary reading for me.

I’m glad you choose to include documentaries, as most critics I read regularly only make a list of favorite fiction films.

Posted by Holly Roddam on Wednesday, Jan, 18, 2012 2:40 PM (EDT):

Thank you Geno!! on Wednesday, Jan 18, 2012 8:26 AM (EST):

“I can’t beleive that COURAGEOUS hasn’t even come up in anyone’s radar.”

I too was surprised that it didn’t even get a nod, especially after Steven was bemoaning the lack of “religious content” this year. This is the third and the best of the movies made by a “little Baptist church” who really are working hard to portrait Christianity and the Christian walk with integrity and honesty. The acting was good, the plot was engaging and over all it was one of my favourites for the year.

Glad to know it is available on DVD because we WILL get it! Thanks for that!

Also I am surprised that “The Help” wasn’t mentioned. This is an important piece I believe. Being only 3 generations out of slavery myself (and yet I am only 56!) this movie showed us a side of our American/Canadian history that we rarely see. It was amazingly told and acted and heart-wrenching and joyous all at once! Another one I plan on adding to my library!

This is the first time I have been to this site but will be back :)

Peace & Love,
Holly M. <><

Posted by john1513 on Wednesday, Jan, 18, 2012 12:32 PM (EDT):

Great list! I will make an effort to see these (outside the overpriced movie theaters)!

Mary Claire Kendall: Yes, I saw your piece on The Conspirator. I’m glad you appreciated it as much as I did. Alas, it is not an opinion widely shared by other critics. At least, I’m not aware of it appearing on any other critic’s top 10 list, let alone in the top 5. But that’s what makes lists interesting: We don’t agree on everything.

Great list, especially with “Of Gods And Men” on top. That film moved me like no other, and was a prayerful experience akin only to watching “The Passion”. I heartily agree that “There Be Dragons” does not belong on the list, (I took more away from “The Help” and “Midnight in Paris”)- it had great potential but came up empty.

Thanks for all the comments so far. (In particular, thank you, Pachyderminator, for your encouragement. I do know you’re out there, and it means a lot!)

I do want to see readers putting forward movies that they wish I had picked, or that they wish I had ranked higher than I did, etc. At its best, such discussion, feedback and even criticism and complaints can be as worthwhile as the lists that inspire them. And, of course, if I help readers discover movies they might not have otherwise, that’s what it’s all about.

For what it’s worth, most of the films that have been mentioned so far I gave ample consideration to. I watched The Tree of Life three times and Hugo twice, in both cases including one viewing right before I made my list. Both films were somewhere near the frontier between the Top 10 and the Runners Up. In both cases I can see why some people like them more than I do—and I can see why some people (including people I saw both films with) like them a lot less.

Pachyderminator, I’m sorry you haven’t been able to see The Mill & the Cross on the big screen, the way it should be seen. I hope you have a nice big flatscreen TV and a good sound system at home. :-)

Evan: You’re right, Life Above All was a miss on my part, so thanks for that reminder. (I haven’t seen The Debt, among others.) I agree Life Above All warranted mention, probably in the “Also Worth Noting” section. By Friday I’ll try to slightly revise this list to include a few things that slipped through the cracks—so be sure to check back on Friday! (Candidly, the process of sifting through all the titles and assembling the lists is so taxing that I almost accidentally left off a much higher-rated film—and no, I won’t say which film it was.)

Posted by Evan on Wednesday, Jan, 18, 2012 11:16 AM (EDT):

Ditto Pachyderminator for the purpose of movie lists. I thought this was a very good list, and I now really need to see A Separation and The Mill and the Cross. There were a few films you did not include that I was wondering about. How about Life Above All? I thought that, along with Contagion, despite the lack of religion in the latter, was at least worth noting. Also, did you see The Debt? I thought it was a very enjoyable spy thriller with some good themes about honesty.

Posted by Geno on Wednesday, Jan, 18, 2012 10:26 AM (EDT):

I can’t beleive that COURAGEOUS hasn’t even come up in anyone’s radar. It is by far one of the year’s best. It tackled a very real social issue of today and showed the need for fathers in the lives of our children and what a difference they can make. It’s a must see and just out on DVD yesterday.

Posted by Gwen Brown on Wednesday, Jan, 18, 2012 10:09 AM (EDT):

I also loved There Be Dragons - should have been higher rated but my favorite movie of 2011 was THE WAY - I saw it four times and want to buy it for home. I intend to walk the Camino de Santiago….I disagree with both of your opinions on these two, but thank you for at least agreeing that they are worth speaking about - something the secular world would never do.

Posted by Claudette on Wednesday, Jan, 18, 2012 9:49 AM (EDT):

Dolphin Tails was my son’s favorite and a close second was the Muppets. He is only 8 but once seeing the true story movie about Winter, the dolphin in the movie, he wanted to give some of his money he was saving for himself to the Clear Water center were Winter is living. I think if a movie can move an 8 year old child to want to give of his own money it must be a great movie.

Posted by Tim on Wednesday, Jan, 18, 2012 9:29 AM (EDT):

This is actually a great list. About half of the films that you say stood out I have never even heard of. The only reason I read these types of lists is to find new movies, and your list has succeeded as far as I’m concerned.

SDG, those of us readers who see these lists, not as some sort of battle in which we must fight for our own favorites or swat at films we liked less than some others did, but to inform ourselves about good films we may have missed and enjoy contemplating the different perspectives that make critics rank films the way they do, probably tend not to comment on them. It doesn’t mean we’re not out there. Take heart.

With regard to this particular list, I don’t think I have any major disagreements for the films I’ve seen, but if I did that wouldn’t necessarily make me appreciate the list any less. I’m somewhat amused to note that the relative positions of some of these are flatly inconsistent with the ratings you gave them, but I don’t even care about that. (One, The Mill and the Cross, I’m not sure I’ll ever get to see as it should be seen, although I’ve been waiting for it to play in my area for months.) I would have put The Tree of Life higher, but I agree with you about what belongs in the absolute top spot.

Posted by Ben on Wednesday, Jan, 18, 2012 2:58 AM (EDT):

I would very much like to know if you have seen (and have an opinion on) TAKE SHELTER and THE DESCENDANTS.

Cat: My review of There Be Dragons. (At Decent Films I gave There Be Dragons a C. Nothing lower than C-plus gets a “Worth Noting” above.)

Posted by Cat on Tuesday, Jan, 17, 2012 8:06 PM (EDT):

Wow, There Be Dragons didn’t even make your honorable mentions, but The Muppets were in the top 10?! I personally thought There Be Dragons was an excellent movie.

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